The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-03-10
[CoNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
SNOW BOUND At EAGLES
By BRET HARTE.

their own power. Mrs Hale's little girl, who
had appreciated only the seriousness OF the
situation, had made her own application of
it. "Are you DOWN. away from Aunt Kate
and mammal" she asked, in an interval OF
silence.
allow else can get you the red snow we
saw at sunset the other day on the peak yon-
ders" said Lee, gayly. an have to get up
some morning very early and catch it when
it comes at sunrise"
"What is this wonderful snow, Minnie, that
you are tormenting Mr.. Lee fore" asked Mrs.
Hale.
ooh! it's fairy snow that he told me all
about; it only comes when the sun comes up
and goes down, and if you catch ever so little
of it in your hand it makes all you fink you
want come true! Wouldn't that be nicer
But to the child's establishment her little
circle of auditors, even while asserting,
sighed.
The red snow was there plain enough the
next morning before the valley was warm
with light, and while Minnie, her mother
and aunt Kate were still peacefully sleeping.
And Mr.. Lee had kept his word and was evil
IDENTIFY seeking it, for he and Falkner were
already urging their horses through the pass
with their faces toward and litup by its glow.
CHAPTER VIII.
Kate was stirring early, but not as early as
her sister, who met her on the threshold Of
her room. Her face was quite pale, and she
held letter in her hand. "What does this
mean, Katef'
"What is, the mattere" asked Kate, her own
color fading from her cheek.
'sThey are gone-with their horses. Left
before day, and left this"
She handed Kate an open letter. The girl
took it hurriedly, and read:
"When you get this we shall be no more;
perhaps not even as much. Ned found the
trail yesterday, and We are taking the first
advantage of it before day. We dared not
trust ourselves to say 'Good-byr last even
ing; we were too cowardly to face you this
morning; we must go as we came, without
warning, but not without regret. We leave
package and letter for your husband. 1t
is not only our poor return for your gentle
ness and hospitality, but, since it was acct
dentally the means Of giving us the pleasure
of Tour society, we beg you to keep it in safe
ty until his return. We kiss your mothers
hands. Ned wants to say something more,
but time presses, and I only allow him to
send his love to Minnie, and to tell her that
he is trying to find the red snow.
GEORGE LEE"
aBut he is not fit to travel" said Mrs.
Hale HAnd the trail-it may not be pass
able.n
at was passabies che day before yesterday, u
said Kate drearily, "for discovered IT, and
went as far as the buckeyes"
"Then it was you who told them abo~ H.
said Mrs. Hale reproachfully.
"No," said Kate Indignantly. "Of course
didn't" She stopped, and, reading the sig
nifcance of her speech in the glistening eyes
of her sister, she blushed. Josephine kissed
her and said:
at sras treating us like children, Kate,
but we must make them pay for it hereafter.
For that package and letter to John means
something, and we shall probably see them
about, and what is in the packagew
probably one of Mr.. Lees jokes He is
quite capable of turning the whole thing into
ridicule. I dare say he considers his visit
here prolonged jest"
"With his poor leg, Kate? You are as un-
fair to him as you were to Falkner when they
first came"
Kate. however, kept her dark eyebrows
knitted in piauant frown.
10 think of his intimatinS trhdt he would
allow Falkner to say! And yet you believe
he las no evil influence over the young
man."
Mrs Hale laughed. "Where are you going
so fast, Kates" she called, mischievously, as
the young lady fiounced out Of the room.
"wheres Why, to tidy Johns room. He
may be coming at any moment now. Or do
you want to do it yourself."
"No, no" returned Mrs. Hale, hurriedly,
"you do it. I'll look in little later on"
She turned away with a sigh. The sun
was shining brilliantly outside. Through
the half-open blinds its long shafts seemed
to be searching the house for the lost guests,
and making the hollow shell appear doubly
empty. What contrast TO the dear dark
days of mysterious seclusion and delicious
security, lit by Lees laughter and the spark
ling hearth, which had passed 50 quickly
The forgotten outer world seemed to have
returned to the house through those open
windows and awakened its jewellers from a
dream. -. -...-..
The morning seemed interminabie, and 1t
was past noon, while they were deep in a
sympathetic conference with Mrs. Scott, who
had drawn pathetic word picture of the
two friends perishing in the snowdrift, with
out fannels, brandy, smelling salts Or jelly,
which they had forgotten, when they were
startled by the loud barking of Spot on the
lawn before the house. The women looked
hurriedly at each other. 49,
"They have returned" said Mrs Hale.
Kate ran to the window. A horseman was
approaching the house. A single glance
showed her that it was neither Faikner, Lee
nor Hale, but a stranger.
perhaps he brings some news of Them
said Mrs. Scott, quickly. So complete had
been their preoccupation with the loss of
their guests that they could not yet conceive
of anything that did not pertain to it.
The stranger, who was at once ushered into
the parlor, was evidently Disconnected by the
presence of the three women.
"Ireckoned to see John Hale yen, !" he began,
awkwardiy.
A slight look of disappointment passed
oyer their faces. "He has not yet returned
said Mrs. Hale briefly.
"Sho! waiter know. He's he'd time to
do it, I reckon" said the stranger.
II suppose he hasn't been able to get over
from the Summit, y returned Mrs. Hale. 1.-THE
trail is closed"
at amt now, for KEN over it this MORN
in myself"
"You didn't-meet-any oneT asked
Mrs. Hale timidly, with glance at the
others.
aNo."
A long silence ensued. Tue unfortunate
visitor plainly perceived an evident abate-
ment Of interest in himself, yet he still
struggled politely to say something. "Then
Ireckon you know what kept Hale awayr